15 guides
Family money guides
Plain-English money guides for families with school-age kids. General education, not financial, investment or tax advice. No bank, plan or brand pays us to mention it.
The school year
Back-to-school budgets, supplies, lunches and clothes.
- Make a back-to-school budget
Count everything August and September bring, then spread it out.
- Spend less on school supplies
Shop your house first, buy basics on sale, and skip the character tax.
- School lunch: pack it, buy it, or get help
Compare the real cost, and check whether your kids qualify for free meals.
- Kids' clothes on a budget
Kids outgrow clothes, not the budget. Buy less, buy used, swap.
Activities and summer
Sports, lessons, camp, parties and free family fun.
- Budget for sports, lessons and activities
Count the hidden costs before you sign up.
- Summer camp and summer childcare costs
Plan in winter, compare options, and use tax breaks where they apply.
- Birthday parties that don't break the budget
Smaller guest lists, home parties and a set gift budget.
- Free and low-cost family fun
Libraries, parks and free days are full of things to do.
Money skills for kids
Allowance, saving, online spending and a first bank account.
- Allowance basics: how much, when and for what
Pick a system, keep it consistent, and let kids make small mistakes.
- Teach kids to save with save, spend and share
Three jars make saving something kids can see.
- In-app purchases and kids' online spending
Turn on purchase controls and talk about how games make money.
- Your child's first bank account
Joint accounts, custodial accounts and what to look for.
Saving for the future
529 plans, other ways to save and your family's safety net.
- 529 college savings plans, explained
Tax-advantaged education savings, and the rules to know.
- Other ways to save for your kids' future
Savings accounts, custodial accounts and how they compare.
- Your family's safety net
An emergency fund, enough life insurance and a named guardian.